1868.] DR. A. GiJNTHERON FISHES FROM ST. HELENA. 22/ 



spines slender, subequal in length from the third, which is the 

 longest ; the first spine is more than half the diameter of the eye, the 

 second longer and somewhat more than half the length of the third. 

 Tlie membrane between the spines is but slightly notched, and emits 

 a very small filament behind the tip of each spine. The anterior 

 part of the spinous portion can be nearly concealed in a sheath. 

 Soft portion rather higher, with upper margin nearly straight ; 

 rays subequal, the eleventh rather the longest and longer than any 

 of the spines ; the posterior rays somewhat diminishing in length. 



Caudal rounded, covered for some distance between the rays by 

 small deciduous scales. 



Anal rather more elevated than dorsal, with the third ray longest 

 and sometimes produced into a filament ; second spine rather stronger 

 but shorter than the third, which exceeds in length the last dorsal 

 spine. Pectoral nearly reaching to commencement of anal, with 

 twenty rays, the middle ones the longest, the others rounded off 

 towards the outer margins of the fin. 



Ventrals reaching to vent, with the second ray sometimes produced 

 into a long filament, reaching slightly beyond the commencement of 

 the anal, the spine exceeding the third of the anal by about one- 

 fourth of its length. 



Scales of moderate size, nearly twice as high as long ; each has its 

 base covered by one or more very small scales. 



ChJETODON SANCT^ HELENyE. 



D. 2-^. A. f^. L. lat. 53. 



The snout is slightly produced, a little longer than the eye, with 

 the upper profile concave ; prseoperculum not serrated. The soft 

 portions of the dorsal and anal fins low, regularly rounded. Body 

 uniform olive-coloured ; the ocular band is much narrower than the 

 orbit, and much fainter below the eye, not extending downwards 

 beyond the praeoperculum. The outer half of the dorsal and anal 

 fins is yellow, with a narrow black edge, the yellow colour crossin* 

 the caudal peduncle ; caudal and ventral fins uniform light-coloured. 



This description is taken from two examples (31), 5^ inches long, 

 Mr. Melliss has sent a third (63), which represents a curious uni- 

 formly coloured variety without ocular band. 



Sebastes nigropunctatus. 



D. 1^. A. f. P. 18. L. lat. 52. 



The height of the body is contained thrice in the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head twice and one-third. None 

 of the dorsal spines prolonged ; no orbital tentacle. Reddish-rose- 

 coloured, with numerous brownish-black dots, between which white 

 specks are scattered. 



Two examples (30), the larger being 15 inches long. 



Description.— Head scaly, except the snout, which is naked. 

 The diameter of the eye is contained once and two-thirds in the 



